When it comes to building a garage, the door is one of the most important aspects to understand. Not only is it visible to anyone who comes to visit your home, but it also needs to be engineered correctly in order to lift up and down for your car, tractor, motorcycle, or any other kind of vehicle that needs to come in and out of the garage. In planning your garage door, it’s important to know: how much does an 8×7 wood garage door weigh?
An 8×7 wood garage door can weigh between 130 and 350 pounds depending on the wood you use and whether or not it has windows or other accessories. In order to find out the exact weight of your proposed 8×7 wood door, you will need to know the density of the wood you are using, as well as the height, length, and width of the wood itself.
In this article, we are going to discuss the many types of wood that you can use for a garage door, how much that wood weighs, and the pros and cons of using it for your door. So keep reading! We have everything you need to know right here and in the next few minutes, you are going to be a wooden garage door expert!
Why Should You Use Wood for a Garage Door?
Before we dive into what kinds of wood are best for a garage door and how much they weigh, it’s important to first note why wood is a great option for doors in the first place!
Most people would agree that wooden garage doors look great, much better than some of the popular plastic options available today.
They are also customizable, you can choose the type of wood, stain, and design so that your garage looks like a beautiful addition to your home, not an out-of-place eyesore.
Wooden garage doors can be made to fit your specific garage, whether the floor is uneven or the measurements are the standard one size fits all dimensions!
The only downside to garage doors made of wood is that they can be exceedingly heavy, meaning it will be challenging to install a system that easily lifts and lowers them. So it’s incredibly important that you choose the right wood!
What Types of Wood Can You Use for a Garage Door?
The type of wood you choose for your garage door will affect the aesthetics of your home as well as the weight of the door and the ease of use.
Selecting the right wood may sound like a big task as there are almost too many types of wood to choose from! However, there are four types that are the most popular as they are the easiest to use and have the right weight and look for a garage door.
- Plywood
- Mahogany
- Cedar
- Reclaimed Wood
Now, let’s break down each of these four options so you can decide which is the best option for your home, and of course, find out how much it weighs!
Plywood
Plywood is by far the cheapest and lightest option to use for your wooden garage door. Some may argue that this type of wood does not fully compare to the others as it will need framing and insulation.
However, if designed and stained well, it can look beautiful! And as it is extremely lightweight, it can be a great option.
An 8×7 plywood garage door will probably weigh about 90 pounds, however, that does not include the framing or insulation.
Mahogany
Mahogany is one of the most beautiful, expensive, and heavy options on our list. This wood is easy to work with and can be stained in various colors to suit your home perfectly. It is durable and will not split or sag with weather or aging.
But it is important to note that it is not light! An 8×7 garage door of mahogany can weigh between 230 and 430 pounds, depending on which variety of mahogany you choose.
This wood is still a popular choice for garage doors, you just need to ensure that your opening and closing apparatus can handle its immense weight.
Cedar
Many homeowners choose cedar for their garage doors as it is not only an attractive wood, but it’s also pest and weather-resistant, easy to work with, reasonably priced, and much lighter than some of the other options.
An 8×7 cedar garage door will probably weigh about 190 pounds.
It will provide a soundproof garage door that can be stained whatever color you prefer or even left unfinished for a more natural look.
Reclaimed Wood
While reclaimed wood is becoming more and more popular as it requires no new trees be cut down and is usually already weathered and resistant to any further discoloration, it’s almost impossible to say how much an 8×7 door will weigh as reclaimed wood can be of a variety of different densities.
If you are opting for reclaimed wood, you will first need to find out which kind of wood it is, then find out how much it weighs. You can either calculate the weight of the wood by knowing its density and volume, or you can simply enter it into an online calculator.
How Do I Know the Weight of My Garage Door?
If you already have a wooden garage door and want to know how much it weighs, you can measure the dimensions and use the online calculator linked above.
It is difficult to know for sure as wood is subject to the elements and can either become wet, and therefore heavier with moisture, or dryer and lighter in some climates.
Final Thoughts
So, how much does an 8×7 wood door weigh? Well, that depends completely on the type of wood!
Typically, wood garage doors are sold or made to weigh between 130 and 350 pounds. However, as you now know, some woods such as plywood can be as light as 90 pounds, whereas others can be over 400 pounds!
The bottom line is that the type of wood matters, so make sure you do your research into the specific type of wood you are planning to use to make sure it is reliable and not too heavy to function properly as a garage door.
Please share this blog post wherever you can if you found it helpful.
Also take a look at our other most recent blog posts below: